Skyfox Launches Integrated Aquaculture And Crop Production Programme

Skyfox Limited, investors in aquaculture in partnership with the Afram Plains Development Organization (APDO), a non- governmental organization, has launched an integrated aquaculture and crop production program at Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District of the Eastern Region.

The three year programme with support from the USAID is an initiative of Skyfox Limited and formed part of the organization's efforts to promote crop farming on irrigated field and fish farming.

The project is also to empower women and the youth in agriculture and is in line with the government's 'one district, one factory', 'Planting for food and jobs and the 'Youth in Agriculture' policies.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Patrick Apoya, the Chief Executive Officer of Skyfox Limited, said the project would expose fish farmers to modern techniques in producing and harvesting fish and infrastructure such as fish ponds and other materials would be provided by the organization.

He explained that, his organization would provide such infrastructures for group farmers at a subsidized price which would be recovered over a long period through the 20 per cent of the profits made by the groups at every fish harvest, while the investors get the 80 percent of the profit.

He said the project had already commenced in Krachi Ntumuru and the Krachi East Districts of the Volta Region to aid low income earners.

Mr Apoya indicated that the organization would be targeting over 1.2 million people across the West African Sub-Region including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Liberia and Ghana.

He said the project would also introduce intensive management strategy that would flash out wasted water from the fish ponds and tapped to the irrigated fields.

This, he added was to ensure massive production of crops and fish all year round.

Some of the crops to be produced under the irrigated fields include cucumber, onions, pepper, tomatoes, potatoes and water melon among others.

Mr Apoya pleaded with the government to partner with the organization to help establish more of such projects in other regions to support its policies.

Mr Samuel Kena, the Afram Plains North District Chief Executive, commended Skyfox and the Afram Plains Development Organization for extending the programme to the District and urged the farmers especially the youth to take advantage of the programme to better their standards of living.

GNA